Where in the world is this?
Does one really need to ask where this is? This is so “Hong Kong” that it would be difficult to place this scene anywhere else but Hong Kong. I say this because, this is the Hong Kong I know.
Now, having said that, my “Hong Kong” is not always going to be the same as anyone else’s “Hong Kong”. This sort of touches on the “philosophy of photography” thing, the “decisive moment”, “mirrors and windows” and whatever. I don’t always know what I do and I don’t always know why I do what I do. It just happens, as is the case with this particular image. I was out looking for something else. I was about to take a short cut down a lane to a nearby high street. As I turned into the lane, I came across this fellow squatting on the steps and hammering away at a wok. “This is weird” was my first thought. With that, lifted up the camera and started photographing the scene before me. And, as they say, the rest fell into place.
Has this image been “cooked”? Of course it’s been cooked. Living in the digital age, what else would you expect? If I was shooting on film, be it in black and white, colour transparency or colour negative then, the image would be a by-product of that imagining material. With digital, much the same applies. In this case, using the available software tools to suit and serve the purpose – as in creating or finishing off an image.
That said, not much has done to this image. There’s very little cropping, little in the way of any adjustment and, no directing. This is as it happened.
In my digital workflow I usually use Nik Software via Photoshop CS6 to finish off my images. In this instance, I used two filters in Color Efex Pro. And, that’s just about it. Things happen. Enjoy…
TECHNICAL NOTES: This image was taken using a Fujifilm X-T1 digital capture device coupled with a Fujinon Super EBC XF 18-55 f/2.8-4 R LM OIS lens.
Print Sales & Image Licensing: Interested in buying a print or licencing this image? You’re in the right place. For the time being, please contact me using our contact form. For prices, please check out our print price guide. Commercial use image licensing starts at US$250/image/usage. We could come to some arrangement for personal downloads. If you’re interested, please let me know.
FEATURED WORK: Rogan’s work is featured on the following websites:
You can find out more about Rogan and why he does what he does here on his ‘Artist’s Statement’ page.
originally written and posted on 140414 – reposted on 190119
